Go Green Radio

Americans have lowered their energy consumption significantly in recent years, largely because of an increase in working from home. Remote work creates more environmentally sustainable workplaces by reducing congestion, lowering fuel consumption, minimizing construction, lessening pollution emissions, reducing the strain on transportation systems, and improving air quality. According to findings from FlexJobs and Global Workplace Analytics’ State of Telecommuting Report, the collective environmental and community impact from the current telecommuting population of 3.9 million telecommuters in the U.S. saves $1.5 billion a year. Today we will talk with Senior Career Specialist, Brie Reynolds, about the environmental impact of remote work in the U.S.

Today we’ll be talking with an innovative CEO that is looking to change the way glass is recycled in the U.S. George Valiotis is the Founder and CEO of Pace Glass Recycling. They will soon have the largest facility for recycled glass in the world and are making great strides to revise a very outdated business model. Pace Glass has found ways to recycle glass that most others cannot, such as colored or dirty glass, and they have set a goal to recover, process and reuse every shard of glass available and in doing so, create a greener tomorrow.

10 BILLION - WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE?, a new film by Valentin Thurn, and Winner of the Social Justice Award for Documentary at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. In 2050, the population of the world is set to hit a staggering 10 billion. This is a huge increase on today’s figure of seven billion, and according to a range of experts and the food industry, it will contribute to serious food shortages. In his search for solutions to this acute problem, filmmaker, bestselling author and self-proclaimed “food fighter” Valentin Thurn travels the world in search of ecologically and economically responsible alternatives to the mass means by which most of our food is currently produced. Tune in as we talk with Valentin on this episode!

In her new book, Simple Acts to Save Our Planet, Michelle Neff shows us how to be more active in saving our planet every day by performing some “Simple Acts of Kindness”—for the Earth. Treat the environment with kindness with these easy, manageable activities that range from simple home updates, to gardening basics, to supporting the local community. You’ll learn simple techniques to help protect the planet every day, like starting a compost pile to reduce food waste, utilizing travel mugs and reusable containers, and choosing eco-friendly products. By working to implement these simple strategies into your everyday life, you can take an active stand to protect the environment now— and make a real difference for the future. Tune in as we talk with the book’s author, Michelle Neff!

On March 20, 2018, the U.S. Green Building Council Northern California community held the annual Water Conservation Showcase to discuss how builders, researchers, business leaders, product manufacturers, scientists and government officials can address California’s most pressing water issues. Today we will be joined by three of the subject matter experts involved in the Water Conservation Showcase: Dr. Joe McBride, Professor Emeritus at UC Berkeley; Erica Ross, of PAE Engineers; and Marc Heisterkamp, Vice President, Strategic Relationships for the U.S. Green Building Council.

We have a worldwide trash epidemic. The average American disposes of 4.4 pounds of garbage per day, and our landfills hold 254 million tons of waste. What if there were a simple—and fun—way for you to make a difference? What if you could take charge of your own waste, reduce your carbon footprint, and make an individual impact on an already fragile environment? A zero waste lifestyle is the answer—and Shia Su is living it. Every single piece of unrecyclable garbage Shia has produced in one year fits into a mason jar—and if it seems overwhelming, it isn’t! In her new book, Zero Waste, Shia demystifies and simplifies the zero waste lifestyle for the beginner, sharing practical advice, quick solutions, and tips and tricks that will make trash-free living fun and meaningful. Tune in as we talk with Shia on today’s episode!

A one-of-a-kind gathering of leaders in the Green Schools movement is about to take place in Denver. The Green Schools Conference & Expo is the only national event to bring together all the players involved in making green schools a reality: people who lead, operate, build and teach in U.S. schools. In today’s episode we’ll be joined by the hosts of the event, Dr. Jenny Seydel, Executive Director of the Green Schools National Network, and Anisa Heming, Director of the Center for Green Schools. Tune in as we talk about their organizations’ work, the state of the green school movement in America, and why you should not miss the Green Schools Conference & Expo!

The challenges facing American fishermen, ranging from declining quotas to disputed science to fleet consolidation, are highlighted in a new Netflix documentary series. Rotten, “travels deep into the heart of the food supply chain to reveal unsavory truths and expose hidden forces that shape what we eat.” The series’ sixth and final episode, “Cod is Dead,” focuses on the domestic seafood industry, and the business and regulatory climate that has made it increasingly difficult for fishermen to make a living. The episode interviews fishermen, scientists, environmentalists, and other stakeholders, with special emphasis placed on industry members in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Tune in as we talk about the issues raised in ‘Cod is Dead’ with Bob Vanasse, Executive Director of Saving Seafood.

Post Carbon Institute recently released a report authored by earth scientist J. David Hughes raising critical doubts about the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) projections for domestic oil and shale gas production. The report, “Shale Reality Check: Drilling Into the U.S. Government’s Rosy Projections for Shale Gas & Tight Oil Production Through 2050,” takes aim at the veracity of forecasts found in the Annual Energy Outlook 2017 (AEO2017), in advance of the planned release of the EIA’s AEO2018. Tune in as we speak with the author of this report, J. David Hughes.

Recycling in the U.S. is highly dependent on the ability to export our recycling overseas. In California alone, 62 percent of the states’ recycling is exported to China. However, in July 2017, China announced a policy called National Sword, which limits the import of contaminated recyclable commodities and increases inspections of recyclable commodity imports. Tune in as we speak with Zoe Heller, Assistant Director for Policy Development at the California Department of Resources Recycling, about how National Sword is impacting local recycling efforts across the U.S., and what investments would be required to create the domestic recycling infrastructure needed to keep U.S. recycling onshore.

On November 13-14, 2017, the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Honda Marine Science Foundation convened and facilitated a forum on “Sato-umi in the Anthropocene.” The forum was designed to explore a number of approaches to “integrated” coastal management, in particular those that cross the land-sea boundary, some of which have been practiced for thousands of years, to see if lessons could be extracted to elevate awareness and stimulate action to reduce vulnerability in the “new normal” of rising sea level. Join us as we talk with forum speakers, Drs. Jerry Schubel, Mike Orbach, and Jim Fawcett, to learn ways humans can manage our coastal areas more sustainably.

By removing plastic from your home, you can reduce your environmental footprint, minimize threats to wildlife, support local businesses and live a healthier, simpler life. In their new book, Life Without Plastic, Jay Sinha and Chantal Plamondon show readers how to analyze their personal plastic use, find alternatives and create easy replacements. Tune in as we talk with the authors about their step-by-step guide to avoiding plastic to keep your family and the planet healthy.

Herbicides are chemicals used to control weeds. As their primary purpose is to kill plants, their effects on some non-target organisms are not as well studied. New University of Canterbury research confirms that the active ingredients of the commonly used herbicides, RoundUp, Kamba and 2,4-D (glyphosate, dicamba and 2,4-D, respectively), each alone cause antibiotic resistance at concentrations well below label application rates. “They are among the most common manufactured chemical products to which people, pets and livestock in both rural and urban environments are exposed. There are no controls that prevent children and pets from being exposed in home gardens or parks. Despite their ubiquitous use, this University of Canterbury research is the first in the world to demonstrate that herbicides may be undermining the use of a fundamental medicine-antibiotics.” Tune in as we talk with senior scientist at Consumers Union, Dr. Michael Hansen, about this important new research.

Duke Energy, one of the largest energy companies in the country, has acquired full ownership of California-based REC Solar, a provider of renewable energy solutions for commercial customers throughout the U.S. Duke Energy first acquired a majority interest in REC Solar in February of 2015. REC Solar will continue to be a part of Duke Energy Renewables, Duke Energy’s commercial renewables organization. Duke Energy Renewables’ experience in offsite solar and wind energy generation, microgrid, battery storage and other emerging technologies, will supplement REC’s onsite solar expertise. Tune in as we talk with Alan Russo, Senior VP of Sales for REC Solar, about the ramifications of this deal and the opportunities it could provide customers.

Green America has launched the Re(store) It campaign to educate the public and U.S. corporations about the benefits of regenerative agriculture, an approach to farming which uses methods that rejuvenate the soil and trap greenhouse gases. The campaign will educate consumers about the importance of regenerative agriculture and offer ways to support it. Regenerative agriculture harnesses the relationships between plants and soil microbes to pull excess carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and store it in plants and soils where it is a useful nutrient for farmers. Tune in as we talk with Todd Larsen, Executive Co-Director for Consumer & Corporate Engagement for Green America.

Cleantech San Diego is a nonprofit member organization that positions the greater San Diego region, including Imperial County, as a global leader in the cleantech economy. Cleantech San Diego’s members include more than 100 local businesses, universities, governments, and nonprofits committed to advancing sustainable solutions for the benefit of the economy and the environment. Today we will be joined by Jason Anderson, President and CEO of Cleantech San Diego, who will discuss how his organization works to create a sustainable, resilient city of the 21st century.

This new book describes how the food you eat can reverse climate change, heal your body, and ultimately, save our world. Throughout this revolutionary book, Tickell teaches how to become an agent in humanity’s single most important and time sensitive mission and how to save the world through the choices you make. He also highlights tangible, real world examples of people and landscapes that are becoming healthier together. KISS THE GROUND, the book, concludes with a point-by-point “how-to” for transforming your grocery list, your kitchen, your diet and ultimately the planet. Tune in as we talk with Josh about this fantastic must-read!

The 2017 Guide to Greener Electronics (the Guide) was recently released by Greenpeace USA, with rankings of seventeen of the world's leading consumer electronics companies on sustainable manufacturing and design of IT products. Companies were evaluated based on their transparency, commitment, performance and advocacy efforts in three critical areas: reduction of greenhouse gases through renewable energy; use of recycled materials; and elimination of hazardous chemicals. Tune in as we talk with Gary Cook, Senior IT Campaigner at Greenpeace USA, about how the electronics companies you support ranked.

Our guest today is Faber Dewar, the CEO of Drink Up, a California-based company that offers a new option in clean, healthy drinking water. Tune in to learn how Drink Up’s proprietary system not only purifies tap water, but can add vitamin boosts at a fraction of the cost of bottled water. Drink Up also partners with water.org, and you will learn why Faber and the whole Drink Up team are committed to pure, affordable drinking water for everyone.

Millennials are less likely to recycle than other generations, but more likely to buy from companies making a positive impact on the world, a new survey finds. The reason, according to the new survey and report from The Shelton Group: Millennials believe corporations have more power to solve global problems than individuals. Millennials are pushing companies to make a positive impact on the world because they believe global problems are too big for individuals to solve, said Suzanne Shelton, president and CEO of The Shelton Group, a marketing and research firm focused on energy and the environment. Millennials will reward corporations that take action and address problems for them. Tune in as we talk with Virginia Vowell, Senior Research Analyst at Shelton Group, about this revealing new report!